Project

GROWTH STANDARDS FOR PRETERM INFANTS

Until today, preterm infant growth has typically been monitored against general infant growth standards. However, research has shown that these standards are inadequate as preterm infants display a markedly different growth trajectory compared to term infants. This is why the Family Larsson-Rosenquist Foundation is funding an implementation project together with the University of Oxford, UK.

The research consortium INTERGROWTH-21st, under the leadership of renowned professors Stephen Kennedy and José Villar, has created new feeding protocols and growth standards specific for preterm infants. Their global adoption is a vital tool for promoting breastfeeding for preterm infants, helping to avoid overfeeding, reducing the risk of childhood overweight and obesity, and improving the early detection of infants with sub-optimal growth.

Related Publications:

“Growth of Preterm Infants at the Time of Global Obesity” by Villar J et al. (2018); Archives of Disease in Childhood: see abstract